Small Scale Wind

While utility-scale sources of wind power often involve a number of large wind turbines spread out over an area of land, there are also opportunities to produce wind energy on smaller scales. In windy areas, on-site or small wind energy systems are a viable option for those looking to generate their own renewable energy and help shield themselves from increases in energy prices.

With proper siting and wind resources, small wind turbines can be installed as stand-alone applications to produce electricity for a single home or building, or they can be connected to an electricity grid for more widespread electricity distribution. They can even be combined with other technologies to create fully integrated renewable energy systems.

Small wind turbines used in connection with an electricity transmission and distribution system (known as grid-connected systems) can reduce your consumption of utility-supplied electricity for things like lighting, appliances, and electric heat. If the electricity generated from the turbine alone does not meet energy needs, the utility can make up the difference. Alternately, when the wind system produces more electricity than is needed at any given point in time, the excess can then be sold to the utility. With the types of interconnections available today, switching takes place automatically.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), through its New York Energy Smart program, has incentives to help people install wind turbines at their home, farm, or business to offset their electricity purchases from utilities. Although installing a small wind system involves a significant initial investment, it is important to consider the lifetime of energy cost savings and environmental benefits that will result. The length of the payback period - the time it takes for the savings resulting from your system to outweigh the cost of the system itself - varies depending on the system you choose and how it is used, the wind resource of the site, and electricity costs in your area.

Please visit the Links and Resources section to learn more about small wind and NYSERDA's small wind programs.